After 20 years playing professional rugby league, I then became an Award winning Fitness Manager with the National Health Service. Leaving mainstream industries I moved into full time sport in 1999 to become the first Player Performance Manager in rugby league with Leeds Rhinos. I was invited to join an elite group of Rugby League coaches, the High Performance line and was appointed onto the Coaching staff of England Academy, which became the first team to beat New Zealand and Australia.

Full Profile

Development of others:

During my employment as a coach or performance manager I was able to demonstrate that I have the relevant UKCC qualifications, experience & wisdom gained from my degree that can cover the content of most high performance sports. The experience I have gained implementing this knowledge is evidenced in the fact that since 1995 I have either coached or implemented programs for players and coaches within professional sport. Some of which became World Champions. Making a significant contribution to the RFL’s strategic document. ‘Home Grown Talent’.

Ongoing development & formal education:

I am committed to lifelong learning and as part of my development I have studied for a Sports Degree at Leeds Metropolitan University alongside working fulltime, and supporting a family. More recently I have finished a Masters in Sports Coaching and a Post Graduate Diploma in Elite Coaching Practice both at The University of Central Lancashire, where I also gained a PGCE in Sport and PE by the end of 2011. I am 12 months into my Professional Doctorate in the Elite Performance at UCLan.

Finally:

There are key psychological, physiological and anatomical factors that need to be considered while planning to improve performance of players and teams. The day-to-day accountability of the athlete to training and the progressive nature of the coaches that design them, are what make up optimal high performance programs for the athletes. Without a combination of on-going personal development, such as my degree studies and the applied experiences allows me to excel in such high performance environments.

Research

Research Activities

Professional Doctorate in the Elite Performance at UCLan, Athletes in Transition

Wilkinson, S. (2010) 'It's not what I do, but why I do it' Journal of Qualitative Research in Sports Studies, 8, 1

External Affiliations and Roles

Current Castleford Tigers Academy Coach. I am former Head Coach of the full Welsh National team, The Russian National Team, Assistant Coach to the French National Team, Assistant Coach to the British Lions 2006, England Performance Coach for The Rugby Football League, as well as being Head of Youth Performance at Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors and Widnes Vikings. Leeds Rhinos not only became Champions of the British game but also Champions of the World by beating Canterbury Bulldogs from Australia in 2005.